Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.